Can you baptize your child in the catholic church if you didn't get married in the catholic church?
It's interesting:"Just as the happy couple wanted, this is a lovely, small, intimate gathering of close friends and family – so could someone please tell me why I’m here. Oh, that’s right, to make a speech, so here goes …"
Baptism is an important sacrament of Catholicism. Infant baptism is a tradition that many people who identify themselves as Catholics, yet don't belong to a parish, would like to have their child participate in. Even when the parents are neutral regarding their children's baptism, other well-meaning relatives may want to see the child baptized. Parents who weren't married in the Catholic Church may be confused regarding the issue of their child's baptism.
All Catholics Have an Obligation to Baptize their Infants
Under Catholic canon law, parents have an obligation to have their children baptized. (CIC 867 §-1). This section of the canon law applies to parents who weren't married in the Catholic Church. For this baptism to be considered licit in the view of the Catholic Church, there are other canon rules that apply. If a parent is Catholic, canon law dictates that the parents baptize the child, regardless of marital status.
Founded Hope that the Child Will be Raised Catholic
Canon laws also state that there must be a founded hope that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith. To comply with this rule, the priest is required to communicate with the parents regarding their reasons for not being in a church-recognized marriage (CIC 868 §-1). If, after talking with the parents who weren't married in the Catholic Church, the pastoral priest deems that there is a well-founded hope that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith, despite the parents' failure to live in a church-recognized marriage, the baptism will be allowed.
The interpretation of this is a pastoral decision, with each parish reserving the right to interpret the Canon laws as deemed appropriate. Different parish priests may be more or less likely to believe that a particular couple demonstrates that they will raise a child according to the Catholic faith. Ultimately, this decision is a pastoral one. It is possible that one parish priest could allow a baptism under these circumstances, while a priest in a different parish might not. Some priests may agree to baptism only if the parents seek a convalidation of a marriage, which will make the marriage valid in the eyes of the church.
Children at Risk of Death
If the reason that the couple is seeking baptism is because the child's life is in imminent danger, baptism is required. In these cases, the baptism is considered to be licit even when the parents do not both agree or weren't married in the Catholic Church. Canon law states that the threatened heath or impending death of the child is a valid reason to baptize a child (CIC 867 §-2).
Children Born to Unmarried Parents who are Being Raised by Catholics
Adopted children who are born to parents who weren't married in the Catholic Church may be baptized under certain circumstances (Can 871). In the case that the child will be raised as practicing Catholic, according to Canon law, the child can be baptized. This is because there is a founded hope that the child will be raised according to the Catholic faith. The Church teaches that children should not be baptized until there is evidence that the child will have access to the practice of the Catholic faith.
Source: www.ehow.com
Tags: Catholic faith, child will, that child, that child will, weren married
